Many Washington County GOP nominees to face same-party challengers due to signature gathering

Kurt Ivie collects ballots from delegates at the 2022 Washington County Republican nominating convention, St. George, Utah, April 9, 2022 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — Supporting the Dixie name and denouncing the state’s alternate path to the primaries through signature gathering were common themes among candidates seeking the delegates’ favor at the Washington County Republican’s nominating convention Saturday.

At the Washington County Republican nominating convention, St. George, Utah, April 9, 2022 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

Held at the Crimson Cliffs High School in Washington City, nearly 100% of the county delegates arrived to listen to the candidates and then choose the county party’s nominee.

Once delegate attendance was totaled, party officials reported that 515 of the party’s 526 county delegates were at the convention, making for a turnout of 97.9%.

Congressman Chris Stewart and Sen. Mike Lee also made an appearance at the convention.

Speaking to the delegates as the convention got underway was Jordan Hess, a Southern Utah resident who is also the vice chair of the Utah Republican Party.

Hess said some northern Utah media had called Republican Party delegates radicals due to recent events in Davis County where a longtime, moderate Republican was defeated in convention by a political newcomer.

The delegates are not radicals for supporting the Second Amendment, being pro-life, believing there are only two genders and not supporting President Joe Biden’s pick for the Supreme Court, Hess said.

“We don’t have to abandon our principles to appeal to the next generation,” Hess said, adding that, along with himself, the leadership of the state party are Millennials.

Jordan Hess, vice chair of the Utah Republican Party, speaks to the delegates during the 2022 Washington County Republican nominating convention, St. George, Utah, April 9, 2022 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

He finished by saying that while Salt Lake, Davis and Utah turn purple, Southern Utah remains a bastion of Republican and conservative ideals.

“We are the strongest county in the state of Utah,” he said. “We have to stay strong in Washington County. We will be the strong epicenter of conservatism in Utah. That’s why I’m proud to call Washington County home.”

Races to be decided at the convention were Washington County Seat A and B, as well as Utah House Districts 72, 73 and 74.

Other county races, such as Commission Seat C, the clerk/auditor, county attorney, county sheriff and Utah House District 75, are running unopposed within the party.

Commission Seats A

Running for Commission Seat A are incumbent Gil Almquist and challenger Allen Davis.

Davis proposed to expand the County Commission to five seat seats to accommodate the growth in the county (he previously proposed a seven-member commission via a failed ballot initiative) and also proposed an elected board for the Washington County Water Conservancy District versus an appointed one.

Washington County Commissioner Gil Almquist speaks to the delegates during the 2022 Washington County Republican nominating convention, St. George, Utah, April 9, 2022 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

Davis also denounced candidates who use the signature-gathering route to the primary ballot which allows them to bypass the caucus-convention system. It was a not-so-subtle jab at Almquist who, while going through the convention, has also registered to collect signatures.

The Dixie name was also mentioned as Davis blamed weak leadership at the municipal, county and state level for allowing Utah Tech University to replace the local university’s longstanding Dixie name.

Almquist touted his work on the commission and opposition to health and economic mandates presented during the pandemic. He also mentioned his supporting a resolution that made Washington County the first “constitutional sanctuary” in Utah. As for supporting the Dixie name, Almquist said he was the one that penned the county resolution supporting the name be kept, as well as the one renaming Old Highway 91 to Old Dixie Highway.

When the delegates voted for Seat A, Almquist took 56.7% of the vote to Davis’ 43.3%. As a threshold of 60% or higher is needed to secure the party nomination, Almquist and Davis is face each other in the June primary.

Commission Seat B

Incumbent Commission Victor Iverson faced challenger Kristin Isham for the nomination for Seat B.

Washington County Commissioner Victor Iverson speaking to a delegate during the 2022 Washington County Republican nominating convention, St. George, Utah, April 9, 2022 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

Isham said she had a desire to serve the community and was a believer in water rights and property rights. She also supports law enforcement and wants to make sure the community is adequately served in this respect.

Iverson asked the delegates to judge him by his record of service on the commission. This included his stance against pandemic-related mandates and keeping the county open during that time as well. He also gave a nod to “political refugees” who had moved into the county and aided in helping to keep the county conservative.

Iverson won 88.8% of the delegate vote to Isham’s 11.2% and heads into the general election in November.

House District 72

House 72 is up for grabs with the pending retirement of Rep. Brad Last. Stepping in to succeed Last were Willie Billings and Joseph Elison.

Billings has held leadership positions in the county and state Republican Party and said he doesn’t want to see Utah turned into California due to the allowance of signature-gathering candidates.

House 72 candidate Willie Billings speaks to the delegates during the 2022 Washington County Republican nominating convention, St. George, Utah, April 9, 2022 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

“I will work hard to repeal this dangerous signature-gathering path,” he said. “It’s intent is to turn us into a California-type primary… It literally eliminates all the votes that took place at the caucus meetings and the thousands of hours you put into vetting because the very vote you pass today is eliminated because of that.”

Elison said Marxism and socialism has infiltrated all levels of government and needed to stop. He added that representatives sent to Washington D.C. and Salt Lake City no longer listen to the people. Elison also said he has a plan for a financially independent Utah and to preserve the state’s conservative way of life, and has the courage and integrity to see it through.

Billings took the party nomination with 62.2% of the vote. However, he will still face Elison in the primary due to his securing a place on the ballot through the signature process.

House District 73

House 73 and 74 each had multiple candidates and three rounds of voting to narrow the field.

House 73 candidate Colin Jack during the 2022 Washington County Republican nominating convention, St. George, Utah, April 9, 2022 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

In House 73, incumbent Travis Seegmiller will face challenger Colin Jack in the primaries as they received 43.9% and 56.1% of the vote respectively.

Jack shared his background as the chief engineer for Dixie Power and how that experience would serve him well as a state representative who will “deliver results for Washington County.” He has also served as a delegate since 2008, as well as in county party leadership. He also counted himself as a fiscal conservative who knows how to stretch a dollar.

Seegmiller told the delegates he only works for them and knows who he represents, and pointed to his previous four years in office as an example of his service. He went on to say he votes according to the constitution and voiced his opposition to Critical Race Theory in schools.

“I am a battle-tested, unwavering constitutional conservative,” Seegmiller said.

House 74 candidate Neil Walter speaks to the delegates during the 2022 Washington County Republican nominating convention, St. George, Utah, April 9, 2022 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

While Seegmiller and Jack will go to the June primary for the party’s nomination, they will also face Nina Barnes who was eliminated in the third round of voting. Like some of the other candidates, she also secured enough signatures to gain a spot on the primary ballot.

House District 74

After three rounds of voting, Neil Walter beat R. Quin Denning for the party nomination with 73.4% of the delegate vote.

Walter, who has served on the Utah Republican Party’s State Central Committee, said Washington, D.C. cannot be controlled, but the future of the state can. He focused part of this short speech on education and said Dixie State University must not be allowed to become “another anchor for social justice and change in the community.” He also blasted the teaching of Critical Race Theory.

Sen. Mike Lee poses for a photo with a constituent at the 2022 Washington County Republican nominating convention, St. George, Utah, April 9, 2022 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

Denning said the people needed someone who knows the constitution. If elected, he would study the issues through his “constitutional glasses.” He also called for transparency in government and urged people to support the Dixie name and stand against pandemic mandates and Critical Race Theory.

Though he has the party nomination, Walter will go on to face Kristy Pike in the June primary. Pike came in third on the last round of voting, yet has also gained enough signatures to be on the primary ballot.

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

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